Packed like sardines: Alberta teachers asking for classroom size support
Posted February 14, 2019 3:07 pm.
Last Updated February 14, 2019 4:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — The Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) is taking a creative approach to a serious concern facing Alberta teachers: the size of classes.
Before the provincial election is even called, the association has decided its election activity would focus on the issue and ensure public education is addressed before Albertans head to the polls.
They’ve printed 400,000 interactive cards that compare classrooms to cans of sardines, and the ingredients include students crammed into rooms with classroom sizes increasing as a result of budget cuts.
“When you zip open the paper lid you’ll see a can, not filled with little fish, but with students crammed in there as an illustration that our class sizes are too large, not allowing our teachers the time they need individually with each of their students,” said Greg Jeffery, president of the ATA.
Ingredients: students crammed into rooms with classroom sizes increasing as a result of budget cuts. The ATA out with a creative way to make sure their voice is heard ahead of the provincial election. #yyc #ableg #abpoli pic.twitter.com/ohvGjk79Yo
— Jenna Giles (@j_hamilton04) February 14, 2019
Jeffery adds class sizes are larger than they were in 2001.
“We made some progress in reducing class size until about 2009 when the government of the day took away the boards requirement to report on how they use the class size-initiative funding.”
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He continues to say that they want to educate the parties of the nature of the problem and find out what their solutions are.
Teachers across the province have been given 10 of the interactive cards to hand out publicly.
